Toothbrush



Nov. 15, 1932. A H, D, BELL 1,887,913

TOOTHBRUSH Filed Jan. 9, 1952 WMQMAW ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 1 5, 1932 A,UNITED STATES HARRY D; BELL,V OF YORK, N.Y.

roornnnusn Application med January Y9, v:32.- serifn nossaae'si. f

This invention relates tov improvements'in tooth brushes and has particular reference to tooth brushes in which the bristle Vsupport may be readily removed from the tooth brush so that the tooth brush may be made and sold in` two pieces, one portion being the bristle supporting element or head and the other element being the handle.

A main obj ect of the invention is to provide simple, strong, durable and economically manufactured elements provided with automatically latching and unlatching means whereby they can be readily assembled together as a complete tooth brush and readily disassembled when new bristles or new bristle supporting elements are to be employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a construction of latching and engaging elements cooperating withvthe head and the handle as will permit the uick and easy assembly of it, and yet be capa le of being manufactured at low cost, while at the same time being strong,l durable, sanitary and not objectionable in appearance. g

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from a consideration of the specification hereinafter taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the specification and which illustrates a present preferred form of the invention.

Briefly described the invention in its present preferred form comprises a handle element, a bristle supporting element provided with aligned adjacent bores and overlapping flanges or lip portions with interlockng means on said overlapping flanges to latch the elements together when they are brought into 4 their cooperative relation and further combined with a metallic stem or connecting member projecting from one element to the other and lying in said bores.

In further particulars the invention includes overlapping flanges having preferably sloping interlocking faces and shoulders and cooperating interlocking tongues and grooves to prevent longitudinal and angular displacement together with the connecting metallic 0 stem snugly disposed in the aligned bores to give the unit substantial rigidity.

The preferred present form of the' inven tion is illustrated in the drawingyof which: Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the brush; v IFig. 2 is a similarrview showing thel parts separated; I v 5.5 Fig. 3V is. an enlarged partial longitudinal n vertical section throughthe oint ;u j' Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the bristle supporting element;`

Fig. 5 is'a plan'view of thehandle element 610 as seen vin Fig'.'2; and f v Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

As shown in thedrawing,l the preferredl form of theinvention comprises a handleele- 65 ment 10, an element lll-supporting bristles 12. These two elements. are vprovided. with aligned bores 13 rand 14 adapted to. receive a metal stem therein when the parts are joined together as shown in Fig. 3, this stem acting as a vconnecting element to add rigidity to the device. v n M j'V I Preferably the portion of the stem l15 eX- tending into the bore 'inthe handle 10 `is proj vided with notches 16 into Vwhich the material 75 of the handle is imbedded to firmly hold the stemonto the handle portion. It is understood7 of course, that this'stem instead of being imbedded at one `end of the handle portion may vbe Vimbeddedfor molded into Ythe so bristle supporting portion, as an alternative, as desired. It will be seen vthat .the handle portion has a projecting flange vor lip 17 preferably provided with a raised transverse tongue 18 which is preferably molded intel gral on the flange 17. It will also be noted that theforward face lof the flange 17 is tapered orvsloped as at 19. This tapering or sloping surface 19 is adapted to abut a similarly sloped shoulder 20 on the bristle supporting element 11.

The bristle supporting elementll is provided with a projecting flange or lip 21 which is preferably "provided with a Ytransverse 95, groove 22 adapted to cooperate with the f tonguelS whenthe parts -are 'placed together. The forwardend of the flange 21 isprovided Y with .a sloping face 23 adapted to cooperatey andabut a similarly sloped shoulder 24 on the *100 handle portion 10.l These anges or lips 1'7- and 21 are also provided with longitudinal grooves 25 and 26 in line with the bores 13 and 14 to snugly receive the stem 15.

In the manufacture of the device the handle and the bristle supporting element 11 are preferably molded to the form shown in the figures, b-ut the bores 13 and 14 are preferably drilled therein. The stem ,15 is then preferably firmly inserted in the handle portion 10. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2, the elements are movedtogether with the free end of the stem 15 entering the bore in the bristle supporting element 11. As the flanges vare brought into their abutting relation the Vlip'21'rwill slip v` over the lipV 17 until the groove 22 and the tongue 18 overly each other whereupon these lips will snap togetherandloclr.

This device is exceedingly simple to manu'- facture, is compact, and durable, and when the parts are assembled the appearance is that of an integralone-piece brush. To separate the parts itis merely necessary to exert a steady longitudinal pull .whereupon thelips are disengaged and in a similar manner to connect the elements it is merely necessary to introduce the free end of the stern into the corresponding bore and eXert a Ysteady force to press the parts together. When the parts reach their ultimate cooperative position they will snap firmly together. The sloping shoulders and faces ofthe flanges on the elements 10 and A11 cooperate to assist in preventing any relative angular displacement of the parts.v The-tongue 18 and the groove 22 assist in vpreventing longitudinal displacement of the parts. The stem 15 assists in keeping the parts aligned and making and keepingthe unit strengthened and substantially rigid while in use. It is, of course, to b e understood that the-slope of the shoulders and faces describedabove may be changedin degree .or direction, if desired. It is also understood that theseL facesV and shoulders may be disposed vertically without any slope, if desired, It is also obvious that the position of the tongue 18 andthe groove 22 may be reversed Without disturbing the inventive concept and the effective cooperation of the parts. The deviceisextremely simple,

compact and durable; itis very easy to assemble and disassemble ,el and affords a strong,- efficient tooth brush for whichV replaceable bristle supporting lelements may be bought at low cost, repeatedly, to cooperate with the same handle element.

While the'invention has been describedin detail and with respect to a present preferred form thereof it is not to be limited to such detailsy and forms since many changes and modifications may be made in the inventionv Without departing from'the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects. Hence it is desired to cover any and all forms and modifications of the inventionwhich may come within the language or scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed, is

A tooth brush comprising a handle element, a separable bristle supporting element, said elements having aligned bores in adjacent ends, a stem lying snugly in said bores and acting to connect said elements, integral overlapping flanges formed on adjacent ends of said elements, interlocking means on said `flanges to hold the elements together when disposed in abutting relation, said flanges kandsaid elements formed with cooperating lsloping faces and shoulders adapted to lie in abutting relation when the elements are drawn together to prevent relative angular movement between the elements.

' Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York, this 8th day of January AID. 1932.

HARRY D. BELL. 

